"stand at the bottom"... of a man-made structure (e.g. building, ladder)? or a natural structure (e.g. cliff, hill)? or neither?

Were you told to stand at the bottom of something that rose above the general ground level of the place where you were? or something that dipped below general ground level (e.g. a crater or hollow)?

"it" = process? object? machine? something else?

Did you actually stand at the bottom? Was it necessary for someone to stand at the bottom for it to work? Was it sufficient for someone to stand at the bottom for it to work? or did something else have to be done to make it work? Did standing at the bottom afford one a good view of it working? Could you tell it was working from where you were standing? or were the workings of "it" hidden from view?

"stand at the bottom"... of a man-made structure (e.g. building, ladder)? or a natural structure (e.g. cliff, hill)? or neither? neither

Were you told to stand at the bottom of something that rose above the general ground level of the place where you were? No or something that dipped below general ground level (e.g. a crater or hollow)? Not this either

"it" = process? object? machine? something else? Yes

Did you actually stand at the bottom? Yes Was it necessary for someone to stand at the bottom for it to work? No but it did guarantee success Was it sufficient for someone to stand at the bottom for it to work? Yes or did something else have to be done to make it work? No Did standing at the bottom afford one a good view of it working? No what worked couldn't really be viewed in the sense you mean Could you tell it was working from where you were standing? Yes or were the workings of "it" hidden from view? No and there's a pretty big FA happening

Is physics a major part of this puzzle? No

All relevant creatures in this puzzle H? A? My friend = his? Yes to all

Was there a particular reason you were told to stand there? Well I was advised to stand there and yes there was a particular reason Were you ill? No Dizzy? No Was the advantage tangible? Yes Obvious? No Obvious in hindsight? No

Is this a particular structure? Yesish not sure i'd describe it as a structure A famous one? The thing itself is not famous but where it's located is well known to some people Is it considered lucky to stand where you were? No Are the following relevant:

Location? Very much so Time period? Present day Time spent standing in position? Somewhat Other people besides you and your friend? Yes Time of day? Yes

Was the idea to frame a picture including the word "ar$e"? Was the rest of the word out of shot? Obscured by someone else? Was the implication that it referred to you? To your bum? Were you facing away, to create the impression that this sign was a label for your own derriere? (There's a word I missed)

So that would be an ecumenical matter, then? :o) LOL That's my stock answer when asked a question at a work meeting on which I've no opinion

Was the idea to frame a picture including the word "ar$e"? No Was the rest of the word out of shot? No Obscured by someone else? No Was the implication that it referred to you? No To your bum? No Were you facing away, to create the impression that this sign was a label for your own derriere? No (There's a word I missed)

Think about the location of the Ar$e word and as a small clue a map might help you

Did the word appear on a signpost? Was it a place name? Was it in English? Irish? Did it work if the whole word could be seen as intended? Is the whole word relevant? Is the whole word necessary for it to work?

Were you standing there to attract attention? From passers by? From someone in an official capacity?

The advantage was tangible: was it financial? Did you win a prize? Did you gain materially in some other way?

Did the word appear on a signpost? Yesish Was it a place name? Yope Was it in English? the sign was in English but a word on it has Irish origins Irish? Did it work if the whole word could be seen as intended? Yes Is the whole word relevant? Yes Is the whole word necessary for it to work? No the AR$E bit would have been sufficient

Were you standing there to attract attention? From passers by? From someone in an official capacity? No to all of these

The advantage was tangible: was it financial? No Did you win a prize? No Did you gain materially in some other way? not materially no

Did you gain by receiving something physical? Did you receive/obtain something identifiable, but which wasn't necessarily physical, like (say) a bank transfer of money? Did you receive/obtain something distinctive which couldn't be physical, like a title with no physical component?

Is it a road sign for Pearse Street? A sign outside Pearse Street Station?

Did you gain by receiving something physical? No Did you receive/obtain something identifiable, but which wasn't necessarily physical, like (say) a bank transfer of money? Did you receive/obtain something distinctive which couldn't be physical, like a title with no physical component? Not these either

Is it a road sign for Pearse Street? No A sign outside Pearse Street Station? Not outside but inside ....well done

So you gained a tangible advantage by standing there, but it wasn't material, emotional, physical, or distinctive in a non-physical way? And standing there, while it wasn't necessary, guaranteed success? Was this success the unidentified and rather baffling "tangible advantage"? Time of day is relevant? And time spent standing there is somewhat relevant?

Was the advantage apparent to you at the time? Was it apparent to anyone else at the time? Was it that by standing in this place, you were able to see something in particular? Did you stand there for less than: 10 seconds? a minute? 5 minutes? 20 minutes? an hour? Was the time of day sunrise? Sunset? Morning? Afternoon? Evening? Night? Is the precise time relevant? Is a clock involved?

So you gained a tangible advantage by standing there, but it wasn't material, emotional, physical, or distinctive in a non-physical way? And standing there, while it wasn't necessary, guaranteed success? yes Was this success the unidentified and rather baffling "tangible advantage"? Yes Time of day is relevant? Yes And time spent standing there is somewhat relevant? Yes

Was the advantage apparent to you at the time? Yes Was it apparent to anyone else at the time? The outcome would have been Was it that by standing in this place, you were able to see something in particular? No Did you stand there for less than: 10 seconds? a minute? 5 minutes? About this 20 minutes? an hour? Was the time of day sunrise? Sunset? Morning? Afternoon? Evening? this Night? Is the precise time relevant? Yes Is a clock involved? well time is relevant so yes

Just to try and answer the questions about the nature of the benefit or advantage (which is a better word actually) that i gained. While I didn't actually receive anything physical there was a physical aspect to the benefit. It would in hindsight cheer one up so I guess I should have said yesish to emotional

The right approach might be to concentrate on where i actually was. Hope I haven't mislead you.

I sometimes think it's harder to answer the questions than to solve the puzzle. Answering in a way that's true, helpful, not misleading and not $p01ling the puzzle can be surprisingly difficult.

Is there a physical clock involved? Or is it just something that would only happen at a certain time? Is it related to the position of the sun? Is it related to something that happens at a certain time of day? Every day?

You were standing in Pearse Street Station, correct? Were you standing under a sign? Next to a sign? On top of a sign/mosaic/special paving slab? Were you standing somewhere warm? On top of an air vent?

I sometimes think it's harder to answer the questions than to solve the puzzle. Answering in a way that's true, helpful, not misleading and not $p01ling the puzzle can be surprisingly difficult. Couldn't agree more. The answers as you'll see when you solve are quite subjective

Is there a physical clock involved? no Or is it just something that would only happen at a certain time? This Is it related to the position of the sun? No Is it related to something that happens at a certain time of day? No Every day? Not every day .. explore

You were standing in Pearse Street Station, correct? yes Were you standing under a sign? No Next to a sign? Nor this On top of a sign/mosaic/special paving slab? No Were you standing somewhere warm? Irr On top of an air vent? No I hope you're not picturing me in some sort of monroesque pose :o)

More that I was trying to come up with a benefit which has a sort of physical aspect and might cheer you up, and I thought feeling warm on a cold day would fit the bill. If you want to be on the other side of the tough and unanswerable questions, you could try my "Won't someone please think of the children" puzzle (hint, hint)

The "Ar$e" was part of "Pearse Street Station", yes? Were you actually standing by something which said "Ar$e" along with other text? Was "Ar$e" a sort of slang description of the station?

Did this thing only happen during the week? At weekends? A certain day of the week? Term time? School holidays? Particular seasons? Spring? Summer? Autumn? Winter? Special days? Bank holidays? Special occasions? Are commuters relevant?

Does it always happen at exactly the same time, like a clock striking? Does it happen at the same time give or take, like a particular train arriving? Does it happen at a predictable time which changes, like the street lights going on?

More that I was trying to come up with a benefit which has a sort of physical aspect and might cheer you up, and I thought feeling warm on a cold day would fit the bill. If you want to be on the other side of the tough and unanswerable questions, you could try my "Won't someone please think of the children" puzzle (hint, hint) I'll have a look at it

The "Ar$e" was part of "Pearse Street Station", yes? yes but be careful Were you actually standing by something which said "Ar$e" along with other text? No to beside but the rest is accurate Was "Ar$e" a sort of slang description of the station? No

Did this thing only happen during the week? Yes At weekends? No A certain day of the week? Monday to Friday Term time? School holidays? Particular seasons? Spring? Summer? Autumn? Winter? Yes to all Special days? No Bank holidays? No Special occasions? Could do Are commuters relevant? Very much so

Does it always happen at exactly the same time, like a clock striking? not exactly but roughly at the same time Does it happen at the same time give or take, like a particular train arriving? This is exactly the event you're looking for Does it happen at a predictable time which changes, like the street lights going on? See above. You're almost there

Did you stand under the Pearse Street Station sign? Were you waiting for someone? Something? And where you stood was advantageous? Perhaps you were out of the way of the crowds? Could get onto a train easily?

Did you stand under the Pearse Street Station sign? No not under it Were you waiting for someone? No Something? Yes And where you stood was advantageous? Yes Perhaps you were out of the way of the crowds? Yope Could get onto a train easily? Yes and....

Not standing beside - were you standing on the Ar$e? No Under it? No Near, but not beside it? Yes In the same place as it?? Yope. To save time I'll tell you that i was standing directly opposite it

Were you watching the pattern of people leaving the train? No but a particular pattern is relevant Were you waiting somewhere you could be easily found by someone on the train? No The person who told you to stand there? No

Is it anything to do with where the train stopped as it came in? Where the doors would be? Were you trying to stand in the best place to get on the train when it stopped? We have a winner....

**************Spoiler***************

Well Done Torquemada. If your ever catching the 5.20 Monday to Friday train from Pearse St Station Dublin to Dundalk and you want to guarantee that you get a seat then stand directly across from the Pearse St sign on the opposite platform . If you line yourself up with the Ar$e in Pearse then as if by magic you will be standing right at the door of the fourth carraige when the train comes into the station. It never fails. So the benefit I found so hard to define is getting a seat on a crowded train.